United Nations Radio

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to express his deep concern over the consequences of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

He strongly urged the Prime Minister to facilitate the freer movement of urgently needed humanitarian supplies and of concerned UN personnel into Gaza.

The Israeli Prime Minister denounced the continuing rocket fire into Israel from Gaza, but agreed to look seriously into the urgent matter raised by the Secretary-General.

On the ground Wednesday, no fuel, humanitarian supplies or commercial commodities were allowed into Gaza, according to the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) says that, starting Thursday, it will have to suspend cash assistance to some 98,000 of the poorest people in Gaza. This is due to the unavailability of shekel bank notes in Gaza banks.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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